Trousers-stretcher.



PATENTED JULY 2. 1907.

B. P. DORWA'RD.

TROUSERS STRETGHBR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 190(f.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

EDWIN 1 DORWARD, OF MARION,

OHlO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO 0. F. CARROLL AND ONE-THIRD TO I. H. EYMON, OF MARION,

orno.

'TROUSERS-STRETCHER.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN P. Donwnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of improvements in that type of devices designed for creasing trousers or pants and embodying spring actuated bars which are adapted to be inserted into the leg portions of the trousers to hold the fabric material under tension and thereby to form longitudinal creases in the article of apparel.

The invention includes peculiar means for attaching the springs which cooperate with the bars of the creaser, special means for adjusting said springs, and a peculiar formation of the bars which come into contact with the trousers to accomplish the desired result.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also'to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pants stretcher embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view about on the line XX of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view to bring out more clearly the mounting ofthe toothed plates, one of which is disposed at opposite ends of the spring actuated bars. Fig. 4 is a broken perspective view showing clearly thejoint means between the sections of the bars of the stretcher.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Generally describing the invention, the numeral 1 indicates the spaced longitudinal bars which in cross section are of V-form, in order that the outer edge portions thereof may be sharp, so to speak, in order to subserve the creasing action of the bars 1 when the latter are arranged in the desired leg. Preferably each of the bars 1 is made from a metal blank folded upon itself longitudinally to form the spaced sides 1 which diverge from the outer edge portions of the bars for the purpose above mentioned. it is contemplated that the bars 1 shall be forced apart by spring tension and .for this purpose, circular springs 2 are interposed between the bars 1.

Each of the springs 2 is formed with an eye 3 in its length which receives a pin 4 applied to one of the bars 1 whereby said spring is firmly attached to this bar. Opposite portions of each spring2 arereceived between the two diverging sides of the bars 1 and each spring has a loose connection with the bar opposite that which is secured to the spring by the member 4 in the manner above described. For this purpose the bar 1 having the loose connection with the springs 2, is provided Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 13, 1906.

.other words, the two sections inner extremities of which are Patented July 2, 1907. Serial No. 334,505.

with a number of pins Sarranged so that the spring with which they cooperate will pass between the outer edge of the bar 1 on which they are disposed, and the intermediate pin 5. The end pins 5 of each series of pins cooperate with the springs 2 by engaging the outer circumferential portions thereof as shown most clearly in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The springs 2 therefore have a loose connection above remarked upon, with one of the bars 1, while they have a positive connection attaching them to the other of the bars and established by the provision of the elements 3 and 4 described. Each spring 2 is split and one end thereof is formed witha bifurcated guide portion 2 while the other end is pro vided with a small yoke 2 in which is mounted a cam lever 6. The bifurcate end portion 2 of each spring 2 is adapted to move along the other end portion thereof and is received between the last mentioned end portion and the cam lever 6, so that the latter may be operable to clamp said bifurcate end portion with respect to such other end portion. The adjustment of the end portions of the springs 2 relatively to one another admits of variation in the tension of the springs, by which the bars 1 are forced apart.

It is preferred that each of the bars 1 be made in sections which are joined together at an intermediate point as shown at 7. The joined means at '7 is preferably established as shown in Fig. 4, by reducing the end portion of one of the sections of each bar 7, as at 8, the reduced portion 8 being adapted to be received between the sides of the other section of the bar, a flange 9 being formed on the last mentioned section and comprising a continuation of a side thereof to thereby facilitate the firm jointure of the sections of the bar. In of each bar 1 have a sort of telescopic connection at adjacent ends, when the bars are in operative condition. The opposing sections of the bars 1 are of course attached together by a spring 2, the construction of which has been above described. At opposite extremities of the bars 1 are located laterally sliding engaging plates 10, the outer extremities of which are toothed or serrated as shown at 11, and the formed with rolls or flanges 12 constituting finger-pieces. The intermediate portion of each plate 10 is slotted to receive a fastening 13 by which the plates 10 are attached to the bars 1 between the sides of the latter. The outer end portions of the plates 10 are adapted to slide through end slots formed in the bars 1 at opposite extremities of the latter. The construction of the stretcher is such that it may be very cheaply manufactured and it is therefore an advantageous commercial article, and the manner of adjusting and operating the parts is also simple, affording a very desirable feature of the invention. The purpose in the provision of the plates 10 is to secure means positively engaging the fabric material of the trousers and prevent the trouser leg from gathering intermediate of its ends, enabling the material to be fastened to the bars 1 under longitudinal tension, so to speak.

It will, of course, be understood that the purpose of making the bars 1 with the intermediate joints is to admit of collapsing the trousers stretcher so that the same may be readily carried about in a suit-case, or the like, space being economized:

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

5. In a pants stretcher, the combination or spaced longitudinal bars, each of said bars comprising sections and being made from a blank folded lengthwise thereof to form spaced sides, one section of each bar having an end portion thereof reduced, the

end portion formed'with a flange and being adapted to receive a reduced extremity of the other section in a telescopic manner.

6. In a pants stretcher, the combination of spaced longitudinal bars, means normally tending to hold said bars apart, and laterally slidable engaging plates applied to opposite extremities of the bars and having the spaced sides of the a rigid connection between a portion of each spring and one of the bars, and means establishing a loose connection between the opposite portion of each spring and the other of the bars.

2. In a pants stretcher, the combination of spaced longitudinal bars, and approximately circular springs interposed between and normally tending to hold said. bars apart, said springs being split and having the end portions thereof adjustably connected to admit of the variation of the tension of said springs.

3. In a pants stretcher, the combination 01' spaced longitudinal bars, and approximately circular springs interposed between and normally tending to hold said bars apart, each spring being split, one of the split ends bars, means establishing In testimony whereof of two witnesses.

I atfix my signature in presence EDWIN P. DORWARD. [L. s.] Witnesses J. H. EYMON, B. F. Bmronn.

other section of each barv 

